Electrical coin-indicating device.



No. 734,127. PATENTED JULY 21, .1903.

R. B. HAZLETT.

ELEGTRIGAL COIN INDIGATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15. 1902.

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PATBNTBD JULY 21, 1903. R. B. HAZLETTV. ELECTRICAL com INDIOATING DEVICE APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15, 1902.

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INVENTOR: 7?... B 1: 0.

WITNESSES:

PATBNTED JU i 2-1, 1903.

R. B. HAZLETT. ELECTRICAL COIN INDICATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION TILED JAN. 15, 1902.

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'WITNESSES:

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No. 734,127. PATENTED JULY 21, 1903.

R. B. HAZLETT.

ELECTRICAL COIN INDICATING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 15, 1902.

H0 MODEL 5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

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. WITNESSES: F H INNTOR= X Q Ma 'ZIE/ a 1 PATENTED JULY 21, 1903.

R. B. HAZLETT. ELECTRICAL COIN INDIGATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION EILED JAR. 1 5, 1902.

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INVENTOR: KM... B. Hg

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PATENT GEEiQE.

ROMEO B. HAZLETT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO cHARLES E. WILSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRICAL COlN- |ND|CAT|NG DEVICE. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 734,127, dated July 21, 1903. Application filed January 15, 1902. Serial No. 89,796- (No model.)

indicating device by means of which a deposit of any particular coin within it is elec trically indicated at a distance therefrom.

My invention is applicable to the collection of tolls at a pay telephone-station, and I have in the drawings and specification of this case disclosed a set of wiring connections by means of which it may be utilized for this purpose; but it will be understood that the application of myinvention is not thus limited, as it may be used to indicate at a distance the deposit.

of a particular coin for whatever purpose the collection of the coin or its indication is desired.

In general my device consistsof a series of coin-pockets adapted to receive current coins of the different denominations and'which when any one has been filled with the coin which it is adapted to receive may be so rotated or-otherwise moved as to efiect the making and breaking bymeans of movable contact-points of an electrical circuit, the contact-points being so arranged in number or otherwise as to indicate at any point of the circuit which of the coin-pockets has moved, and consequently what coin has been deposited.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my coin collecting and indicating device. Fig.2" is a cross-section along the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a crosssection along the line 3 3, Fig. 1, looking in the opposite direction. Figs. & and 5 are cross-sections along the line 4 5, Fig. 1, showing different positions of the coin-pockets.

'Figs. 6 and 7 are isolated views of one of the coin-pockets. Fig. 8 is an isolated side view of one of the disks 0, Fig. 1. Figs. 9 and 10 .therefrom.

withdrawal therefrom.

are diagrammatic representations of the electrical circuits which may be employed when :Slotted coin-tubes leading from these slots are shown in the drawings and lettered, respectively A A A Im niediately contiguous to the ends of these tubes are three corresponding r0-.

tating coin-pockets B B 13 (Shown-in their upright position in Fig. 1.) Each of these coin-pockets is in the shape of an elongated rectangle, corresponding to the shape of the coin which is to be introduced therein,as seen in Fig. 7. The orifice of each coinpocket is at its upper end slightly larger than the coin which it is adapted to receive. One of the short sides I) of each pocket slopes inwardly, as Seen in Fig. 6, so that although the pocket may be open at the bottom the coin cannot escape The opposite short wall of each coin-pocket is formed. by a narrow swinging bar I), freely pivoted near its upper end at 17 so that the entrance of the coin into the pocket occasions as the coin descends the inwardlysloping wall I) an outward thrust upon the lower end of the bar b.

4, that the pockets rest at their baoks'in sta ble equilibrium against a fixed cross-piece e, mounted upon a post E; The shaft F is formed with a handle at its left-hand end androtates in suitable journals formed in the walls ff of the housing of the apparatus, a collar)" at the right-hand end preventing its The shaft F has fast upon it'three disks 0 O 0, each mounted immediately alongside of one of the rotating coin-pockets, and each disk has set in its side This bar, it will be noted, projects below the lower end of the coina pin 0, which when the shaft F is in the position of the drawings prevents the possibility of the pocket moving forward, so as to rotate upon the shaft. Each of these disks has also formed in the side next to the pocket a groove 0, (see Fig. 8,) which is normally vertical and in line with the swinging bar I), which forms the adjacent end of the coinpocket next to the disk.

From a consideration of the parts which have thus far been described it will be observed that upon manually rotating the shaft F by drawing the handle toward the operator no motion will be given to any of the coinpockets, provided no coin has been deposited in them, by reason of the stable equilibrium of these pockets against the cross-piece e, for the bars b, hanging vertically, do not engage with the groove 0' or any of the disks G. If a coin of less diameter than that for which a particular pocket is intended is dropped into a coin-chuteas, for instance, if a dime or five-cent piece is dropped into the chute intended for quarters-the coin will fall through the coin-pocket without effecting any engagement of the pocket and shaft. A coin larger than that for which a particular pocket is intended will not enter its coin-chute. If, however, a proper coin be dropped into one of the pockets, the pressure of the coin as it descends along the sloping wall I) will push the bar 1) outward, thereby forcing it into engagement with the groove 0' of the adjacent disk, so that if the shaft F is then rotated it will occasion at the same time the similar rotation of the pocket containing the coin to the position of Fig. 5, while the empty pockets will remain in their upright position.

Near the right-hand end of the shaft F the inner end of a coiled band-spring G is made fast to it, the outer end of the spring being made fast to a fixed post g. The rotation of the shaft F in the direction which has been indicated is against the torsional effect of this spring, so that if it has been thus rotated until any pocket containing a coin has been inverted, so as to dischargeits coin immediately the handle is released by the operator, the shaft F and'with it (by means of engagement of pin 0) the inverted pocket will return to the position shown in the drawings, owing to the torsional effect of the spring G upon the shaft. Upon reaching the upright position the pocket again comes to a rest against the cross-piece c, and the shaft F can rotate no farther, owing to the stop-pin mention ed.

Immediately behind each of the larger jourualing-lugs D is mounted an upright springplate of the electrical switch H, as best seen in Figs. 4 and 5. Near the top of each springplate a forwardly projecting elbow h is formed, and behind each is a flexible electrical contact h, which when pushed back touches the fixed contact 71. closing an electrical circuit 11 01 within which all of these switches are in parallel. Each of the journaling-lugs D has inserted within its periphery one or more projecting spokes, the number being arranged for convenience of indication so as to correspond to the multiples occurring in the values of the coins which their respective pockets are adapted to receive. Thus supposing that coin-pocket Bis adapted'to receive a nickel, the lug D attached to it will have inserted in it one spoke. If the pocket B is adapted to receive a dime, its lug D should have two spokes, and if the pocket B is adapted to receive a quarter its lug D should have five spokes. The length of these spokes is such that as each one of them passes the elbow h immediately behind it the spring-plate is forced back sufficiently to close the contact between 71, and 71 and momentarily close the circuit 02, n. It is, however, necessary that during the forward rotation of the shaft F for the purpose of inverting a coin-pocket no contact should occur between these spokes and the elbow h. To effect this, the shaft F is mounted freely in its journals, so as to allow free lateral play therein. To occasion this lateral motion at the proper time, an annular camring I is mounted so as to freely surround the shaft where it is journaled in the left-hand housing-wallf. This cam-plate has two deep notches cut in it upon opposite sides,one of the edges of each notch forming a cam-incline t', while the opposite edge of the notch is much more steep. A cross-pin J is inserted through the shaft,the ends of which ride along the camring I, being forced against it by a spring-plate 7', fixed at thebottom of the housing and engaging a fixed collar j upon the shaft, against which it exerts a constant thrust to force crosspin J against the cam-ring. In the normalposition of the apparatus, as shown in the drawings,the cross-pin has entered the two notches, one at either side. When the shaft F is rotated forward, the ends of the cross-pin must ride up the two cam-inclines 2', for rotation of the cam-ring I in that direction is forbidden by a spring-pressed detent 7a, which engages a toothed wheel K, fast to the cam-ring. By thus riding up the cam-inclines 'i the shaft F and all that it carries is forced a corresponding distance toward the right. This shifts all of the coin-pockets, including the large journaling-lugs D, sufficiently to cause the spokes which project from them to pass the elbow it immediately behind them without contact, so that the inversion of the coinpockets is occasioned without closing the circuit n n. When, however, the shaft F has been given a complete half-turn, the crosspin J again slips into the notches of the camring, and the shaft is laterally restored to the position of the drawings by the pressure of the spring-platej. When now the handle is released and the shaft returns to its normal position under the torsional effect of spring G, the ends of the cross-pin J do not ride up the steeper edges of the notches opposite the cam-inclines 't' i, but instead the entire camring rotates with it, this motion being permitted by the detent lo riding over the teeth of the wheel K until a semirotation has'been effected. It therefore results that during this return movement of the shaft, by which any one of the coin-pockets which has been inverted is restored to its normal position, the spokes projecting from the journaling-lugs D of that pocket ride over the elbow h and occasion as many successive closings of the circuit n n as there are spokes.

In order that the return movement of the shaft under the influence of the spring G may not be too rapid, I provide for an escapement as follows: Made fast to the shaft toward its right-hand end is the arm L, (see Fig. 3), carryinga spring-depressed pawl Z. An escapement-wheel M is mounted freely upon the shaft within the range of this pawl, being held from sidewise motion during the lateral movement of the shaft by a crotch m, mounted at the bottom of the housing. The pawl l is of sufficient width to allow contact with the escapement-wheel M to be maintained irrespective of its lateral motion with the shaftin either-direction. An ordinary escapement-anchorlis pivoted on a stud made fast to the right-hand housing andin the plane of the escapemeut-wheel. The loweredge of the escapement-anchor carries anarm Z carrying the weight Z During the semirotation of the shaft F, which occurs when the handle is turned forward, the escapement-wheel M is stationary, the pawl Zridiug freely over its teeth; but when the semirotation has been completed and the return of the shaft occurs pawl Z engages the escapement-wheel, and the return can consequently only occur as fast as the escapement-anchor will permit, the motion being regulated by the vibration of the weight Z This rapid vibration of the weight has a further useful function in causing a consid:

erable jarring of the apparatus during the return of the pocket to its normal position, so that in case by accident a coin should be wedged in the pocket it would be jarred out before the pocket is reseated.

Thus far I have described only one form of mechanism whereby the deposit of a particular coin affects the electrical circuit with which my coin-indicating device is connected. It will be understood, however, that many other forms-of mechanism may be devised whereby the motion of the coin-pockets may actuate electrical switches inserted in a circuit, so that at any point in the circuit a signal may be received indicating what coin has,

been deposited. In the simplest use of my device this circuit may be unconnected with other'uses and may be extended to any point.

where it is desired that registration may be had of tolls collected by the coin-collecting device, for which purpose the instrument T (see Fig. 9) or any otherinstrument whereby the makingand breaking of the circuit is indicated may be inserted in the'circuit at that point. In order, however, to more fullyillustrate the capabilities of my invention, I have chosento explain its use for the purpose of collecting tolls at a pay telephone-station not provided with an attendant and have illus-v trated and will now describe the system of wiring connections and devices by means of which I am enabled to use my device in connection with a telephone-circuit for the purpose of indicating to the operator at the central station that the proper coin has been dcposited. I have also shown how a further registration of the sum-total of all the coins thus deposited may be made at another office, so that the amount collected by the coin-collecting device may be known.

Referring to Fig. 9, N is the pay-station, comprising such essential elements as the transmitter or, receiver n, induction-coils 07. and hook-lever a The pay-station N is connected'by the line-wires n n with the respective terminals n 'n in a socket at the central station 0. The line-wire n is in shunt connection with the spring element h of the coincontrolled switch H, above described, whose tion O'comprises the cord-circuits 0 0', provided with the plug-terminals 0 0 which are adapted to respectively engage the paystation socket-terminals 77. m The cordcircuit includes the ringing switch-key 0, whose spring-terminals 0 0 are arranged to connect with the spring-terminals o o of the cord-circuits 0 0 provided with the plugterminals 0 0 when the key is raised, and the terminals 0, 0 are disconnected from the terminals 0 0 and connected with terminals 1119 when the key 0 is depressed. The terminals 13 p are respectively connected by the wires 19 p with the terminals 19 19 of the key P. The terminals 19 p are normally in contact with the terminals 19 19 of the ring- IIO line-circuit. The bridge-circuit R, provided I with the terminals r r, includes the operators telephone instruments and the bridgecircuit S, provided with the terminals 8 s, includes the source of current for the talkingcircuit, consisting of the battery S, whose opposite sidesare connected in the bridgecircuit through the reactance-coils s 8 A shunt-circuit textends from the bridge-cir-- cuit S to the ground and includes the devices to manifest the deposit of coin at the paystation N, comprising the instrument T at the operators position, the instrument T in the auditing department of the central station, and theindicating-current source, consisting of the battery 25'. Each of the instruments T T comprises a relatively movable index and graduated dial and both are designed to shift their indexes one graduation witheach electric impulse which is tra nsmitted through their respective coils t i However, the instrument T is designed to merely temporarily indicate the amount deposited at the pay-station N for a single call and is adapted to be reset to zero by the operator at whose position it is located. On the contrary, the instrument T is designed to manifest the total amount received at the pay-station N and is excluded from the control of the operator. In order to distinguish between the instruments T T, I shall hereinafter term the former the indicator and the latter the register.

The above-described apparatus may be operated to take a coin-signal as follows: The central-station operator depresses the switchkey P and the switch-key O, and thus establishes connection through the shunt if from battery 25, through coil t of the register T, coil 25 of the register T, bridge-circuit S, switch-terminal s, switch-terminal 19", wire 19, switch-terminal p switch-terminal 0 wire 0, plug-terminal 0 socket-terminal n line wire 11 and switch -terminal h As hereinbefore described, the switch-terminal 71 is placed in electrical connection with the switch-terminal h by the deposit of a coin. The terminal it being connected with the wire n to ground, the indicator '1 and register T are actuated in accordance with the coin deposited. It is to be noted that during this operation the battery S is bridged across the circuit through the retardation-coils 8 s and the operators instrument being also bridged across the line by the circuit R the apparatus is maintained in condition to enable the central-station operator to receive sound-signals transmitted from the pay-station N. The indicator T and register T being operated by the shortcircuiting of the line through the ground-wire 92,, as above described, it is evident that any accidentalgrounding of the line-circuit would suffice to operate the indicating devices and make a false record of the receipt of coin. Therefore I provide means to enable the central station operator to test the line for grounds before placing the apparatus in position to receive a coin-signal, as follows:

For simplicity of illustration I have shown the test-circuit as a shunt to, extending directly from tho cord-circuit o to the battery t and comprising the switch-key u independent of the key 0. It is to be understood, however, that the test-circuit may be so arranged as to be controlled by the switchkey 0'.

In the form shown the shunt-wire t, extend ing from the bridge-circuit S to the indicating instrument, includes the automatic switch, consisting of the drop i and the detent-lever t, which latter normally upholds the drop i in the normal position. (Shown in Fig. 10.)

The test-circuit u extends through the coil of the switch-relay U, which is in operative relation with the detent-lever t and is operated as follows: Before manipulating the switches O P to take a coin-signal as above described the operator depresses the switchkey u, so as to complete the circuit from the ground through battery t, shunt to, switchrelay U, switch u, cord-circuit 0', plug-terminal 0 and socket-terminal n to the line 01 n. The indicating-circuit remaining open at the coin-controlled switch H. during the test, no current is sent through relay U by the manipulation of the test-switch u, and the drop i and detent t remain connected unless an accidental ground connection exists upon the line. However, in the latter event a current is transmitted from battery t through the relay U, which actuates the detent 25 releases the drop 2?, and thus opens the indicating-circuit, so that the subsequent.

manipulation of the keys 0 and P by the central-station operator does not include the indicating devices in the circuit. Inasmuch as the indicating-circuit would be placed out of service for the time being by the abovedescribed operation of the relay U, I find it convenient to provide an audible signaling device at the pay-station N by including in circuit with the wire n the single-stroke bell it which will make an audible signal each time the circuit is closed at the switch H. The audible signal is transmitted by the telephone instruments at the pay-station N through the line to the receiver of the operators set in the bridge R at the central station. I also find it convenient in some instances to provide an audible coin-signaling device at the central-station operators position and for this purpose include in the circuit extending to the coil 25 the single-stroke bell i the arrangement being such that an audible signal is given by said bell t caused by the electrical impulse designed to actuate the indicator T.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a coin-indicating device, the combination of a series of movable coin-pockets each adapted to receive a coin of a different denomination; actuating means common to all of the pockets normally disconnected therefrom; means whereby when the proper coin has been placed in any one of the pockets such pocket is so connected with the common actuating means that it may be moved irrespective of the others; an electrical circuit containing switches in parallel; and connections whereby the motion of a coin-pocket operates its respective switch, substantially as described.

2. In a coin-indicating device, the combination of a horizontal shaft, a coin-pocket adapted to receive a coin and rotatably mounted on the shaft but out of line therewith so that the weight of the pocket normally sustains it against rotation with the shaft in one direction and a stop arranged to prevent rotation with the shaft in the other direction, whereby the coin-pocket is normally sustained in an upright position notwithstanding the rotation of the shaft; means whereby upon the insertion of the proper coin the pocket is caused to rotate simultaneously with the shaft until the coin is discharged; connections whereby a return motion of the shaft restores the pocket to its upright position; and means, substantially as described, whereby rotation of the coinpocket makes or breaks an electric circuit .so as toindicate to any point in that circuit the motion of the coin-pocket, substantially as described.

3. In a coin-indicating device, the combination of a series of coin-pockets each fitted to receive a coin of a different denomination and all rotatably mounted on a single shaft; means whereby rotation of said pockets upon the shaft can only occur when the proper coin has been inserted in the proper pocket; projections from each coin-pocket corresponding in number to the multiples of value represented by the coins for which they are respectively adapted; a series of electrical switches, corresponding and in proximity to said coin-pockets, which are closed when the coin-pockets rotate as many times as there are projections to the coin-pocket; and an electrical circuit which is closed by the touching of these contact-points, whereby the circuit is made as many times as there are projections upon the coin-pocket which has been rotated, substantially as described.

4. In a coin-indicating device, the combination of a horizontal shaft, a coin-pocket adapted to receive a coin and rotatably mounted on the shaft but out of line therewith so that the weight of the pocket normally sustains it against rotation with the shaft in one direction and a stop arranged to prevent rotation with the shaft in the other direction; means for retaining the pocket in a position of upright stable equilibrium; a

movable side in the pocket; a disk fixed upon,

the horizontal shaft in proximity to this side of the pocket having a groove which is in alinement with the movable side of the pocket when the latter is in its upright position; and means whereby the deposit of theproper coin in the pocket advances the movable side of the pocket into engagement with this groove; substantially as described.

5. In a coin-indicating device, the combination of a rotating shaft; a coin-pocket freely swinging thereon upon journaling-lugs fixed to the side of the pocket out of line therewith so that there is an unobstructed opening through the pocket, means whereby when the proper coin is inserted in the pocket, the pocket will be so connected with the shaft as to rotate therewith; one or more spokes projecting from said journaling-lugs; switches for an electrical circuitin the path of the extremity of said spoke or spokes, whereby'the circuit is closed by each spoke as the pocket rotates upon the shaft, substantially as described.

6. In a coin-indicating device, the combination of a rotating shaft which is capable of lateral movement; a coin-pocket swinging freely upon said shaft; means whereby when filled with the proper coin said coin-pocket may be inverted by rotating the shaft; means whereby upon release of the shaft after such rotation it returns to its original position carrying the coin-pocket with it; an electrical circuit having a switch with spring contact points mounted in proximity to the coinpockets; means carried by the pocket adapted, when in the plane of the contact-points, to close the circuit; means for causing the rotating shaft to move laterally in one direction as it is rotated to invert the coin-pocket so as to move the circuit-closing means carried by the pocket out of the plane of the contact-points of the switch; and means for moving the shaft laterally in the opposite direction to return it to normal position at the completion of the inversion of the coin-pocket so that on the reverse rotation of the shaft the circuit-closing means carried by the pocket will be in the plane of the contact-points; substantially as described.

7. In a coin-indicating device, the combination of a rotatingshaft capable of rotating freely in one direction and combined with spring-pressure whereby upon its release it is returned to its initial position; a coinpocket freely swinging upon said shaft and in stable upright equilibrium thereon; means whereby the insertion of the proper coin causes the pocket to be inverted by rotation of the shaft; means whereby the pocket is rotated to its normal position during the rotation of the shaft after inversion; an escapement-wheel upon said shaft; and means whereby during rotation of the shaft to invert a coin-pocket such rotation is free from the escapement, but during its return is subject to control thereby, substantially as described.

8. Ina coin-indicating device, in combination with the coin-pockets and means for inverting the same for discharge and then restoring them to their initial position; an escapenient-wheel with connections whereby the return of the pocket is controlled by the escapement in combination with a weight fixed to the escapement which by its inver sion jars'the coin-pocket so as to discharge a coin improperly adhering thereto, substantially as described. 7

ROMEO B. HAZLETT.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. BELL, O. BRADFORD FRALEY. 

